International Assistance Mission Annual Report 2008 IAM 9 The International Assistance Mission is an international association of Christian organizations serving the people of Afghanistan with compassion and excellence in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ through training and capacity building that fosters wholeness and transformation. Faizabad Mazar-i-Sharif Maimana Kabul Herat Lal-wa-Sarjangal Kandahar Written by IAM team members – Photography by IAM team members Compiled/designed by Rachel Wyatt Contents: Message from the Executive Director . 2 Herat, Herat Province . 4 Community Development Project Herat Ophthalmic Center Primary Mental Health Project Maimana, Faryab Province . 8 Orthopedic Workshop and Physiotherapy Center Community Development Project English as a Foreign Language (see page 19) Lal-wa-Sarjangal, Ghor Province . 11 Hazarajat Community Health Project Faizabad, Badakhshan Province . 14 Language Survey Badakhshan Renewable Energy Sources in Afghanistan Project (see page 26) Kandahar, Kandahar Province . 16 Kandahar NOOR Eye Hospital Adult Learning and Education Facilitation Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh Province . 18 Mazar Ophthalmic Center English as a Foreign Language Kabul, Kabul Province . 21 National Organization for Ophthalmic Rehabilitation Physiotherapy Institute Business Development Services Renewable Energy Sources in Afghanistan Project English as a Foreign Language (see page 19) Individual Service Assignments . 27 IAM Finances . 28 1 Respected Partners and Friends of IAM, The year 2008 was one of transition. Mr. Harri Lammi was Executive Director (ED) until mid November and then I, Dirk R Frans, took over the leadership of IAM. As a newcomer, I claim no credit for IAM’s achievements in 2008. I know that Mr Lammi also would not claim that any of the achievements are his. Instead, we both believe God’s grace and blessing was behind all that was done for and with the poor and vulnerable people of Afghanistan in 2008. IAM has served and worked alongside the Afghan people for well over four decades. During the past 42 years IAM has always tried to train Afghans through its health and development projects. Many of them now help run IAM projects and many others are involved in development activities with other non-IAM projects. For me it is a real privilege to lead this well established non-government organization (NGO) with so many committed and capable staff and volunteers. Some years ago, under Mr Lammi’s leadership, IAM started to focus its activities on underserved people living in the more outlying and rural areas. In 2008 this focus on the poor was further strengthened. To reach this goal, IAM started new projects in Badakhshan, Maimana, Kandahar and Herat and by the end of 2008 IAM had over 18 projects in seven geographic areas. It is also a great honour that the work of IAM was highly appreciated by the Ministry of Economy which is a leading ministry for all national and international NGOs. We received an offi cial letter signed by His Excellency Deputy Minister of Economy which was handed to Mr Harri Lammi by the General Director of NGOs Mr. Basirat. IAM Partner Organizations The fi nancial support for IAM’s long-term development projects comes primarily through its partner agencies. The Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish and Japanese governments are also major donors to IAM development projects through the “co-funding” channels of their Foreign Aff airs Ministries. In 2008, IAM tried to increase the number of two or three-year funding contracts to enhance our long-term sustainable development focus. However, the looming global fi nancial crisis has made donors reluctant to make longer term commitments and we now have fewer such contracts than in 2007. IAM is grateful to the faithful and supportive donor and partner organizations. We ensure that the funds entrusted to IAM reach the Afghan people at the grassroots level. IAM only works in Afghanistan and its international headquarters have always been located in Kabul, in order to ensure our local focus and keep our administrative overhead costs as low as possible. Presently they are 12% of project budgets. Afghan and Expatriate Colleagues IAM employs 500 Afghan colleagues working in the projects and offi ces. We thank these highly skilled and motivated colleagues for their hard work as they reach out to more than 370,000 of the men and women of their country. Every year there is signifi cant growth in capacities, skills and competencies throughout the organization. It is a privilege for us to have such committed colleagues. IAM currently has about 60 expatriate volunteer professionals and about 40 dependents who also volunteer their skills. They have left their own countries to serve the Afghan people with A Message from the Executive Director 29 A Message from the Executive Director their professional skills. The normal term of service of an IAM expatriate volunteer is three years. Many IAM expatriate colleagues serve multiple terms, and some have served the Afghan people for more than 20 years. It is one of the key principles of IAM that no project funds are used for expatriate allowances, home rents, or daily expenses. All expatriates are required to have complete support of their own. Glimpses of the Impact of IAM Work Below is a summary of what IAM has achieved in 2008 with the funds and personnel entrusted to it: • The National Organization for Ophthalmic Rehabilitation (NOOR) eye care project alone treated over 300,000 patients • The Hazarajat Community Health Project provided services and partially implemented the Basic Package of Health Care Services for a remote community of approximately 140,000 people in the Central Highlands and treated almost 30,000 patients • The Community Development Projects in Maimana and Herat together assisted thousands of benefi ciaries through village development work • The Primary Mental Health Project in Herat assisted over 4,500 patients with mental illness and also trained local health care personnel in rural villages and governmental health institutions in Herat, Farah, Ghor and Badghis Provinces • The IAM English as a Foreign Language project taught 300 students at advanced levels of English to assist the students in their professional and academic lives. • The Business Development Service trained 200 women to set up and run their own businesses in Kabul and trained over 90 workers of other NGOs • The Kandahar NOOR Eye Hospital established in 2007 served well over 10,000 out patients and did over 700 operations • The Renewable Energy Sources in Afghanistan Project continued to build small-scale hydro power plants in rural areas and research wind power Developments in Afghanistan Despite the serious eff orts of the Afghan Government and the sacrifi ce of many Afghan and foreign lives, Afghanistan saw a gradual deterioration of security in 2008. Nevertheless, IAM was able to continue its assistance work to the Afghan people with only minimal disruption. The only security related constraints were in some districts of Herat, where access to a planned project site was denied due to reduced security. This resulted in the project shifting to another district. We are also aware of the need for signifi cant strengthening of the Afghan judicial system as regards the matter of human rights. Basic human rights, such as freedom of expression, speech, and creed, which are endorsed by the Constitution of the Islamic State of Afghanistan and also by Islamic scholars worldwide, are still in the process of being rooted in this nation. Closing word I hope that the year 2009 will be a year of positive changes for the Afghan people and that they will be able to hold the presidential election in peace. We also hope that the newly elected president will be able to bring peace to this lovely, but as yet war-torn country. Our desire as a non-political, non-profi t and non-governmental organization is to see the people of Afghanistan rebuild their country into a just and prosperous state. Sincerely Dirk R Frans, IAM Executive Director 3 Herat Province is located Herat in the western region of Afghanistan which has a population of approximately three million and includes the provinces of Ghor, Badghis, and Farah. Crossed by the low Safed Koh Mountains, the land in this province is fl at and open. The climate is hot and dry. The summer is well known for its “wind of 120 days” when the wind blows from the end of spring until the start of autumn. Herat City, the capital of Herat Province, was once an oasis on the ancient Silk Road. Today, it still shines as a cultural center; a seat of poetry, learning, and architecture. The streets are lined with tall pine trees and decorated with parks. Shopkeepers sell Herati silk, blue glass, carpets, and gold. Work started in 1966 IAM fi rst started its work in Population (city) 500,000 Herat in 1966 with the Herat Tajiks, Pashtuns, Hazaras, Turkmens, Ophthalmic Center (HOC). For People Groups Aimaqs, Uzbeks many years HOC provided eye Languages Dari, Pashtu care services to people in the western region of Afghanistan. Elevation 800 meters The Primary Mental Health Dry climate Project was started in 1996. In Climate Summers: 35 to 40 Celsius Winters: +5 - 15 degrees Celsius March 2006, the project opened the fi rst dedicated Mental Health Clinic-Resource Centre for the region. The clinic provides outpatient treatment for the mentally ill and mental health training for medical personnel. The clinic also provides training courses in the provinces for medical professionals and communities. IAM also had a long term Community Development Project (CDP) in the vicinity of Herat City and in Cheshte-Sharif district from 1995-2007. According to IAM’s strategic directions, a new, more remote area was selected after surveys in late 2006 and the CDP in Herat-Kushk was started in 2008.